The future is never executed exactly how it’s envisioned. Using pop culture texts as examples, hoverboards didn’t hit the mass market by 2015 as Back to the Future II had implied, but there is still time to reach The Jetsons’ flying cars by 2062 (I wouldn’t bet on it, though).

The reality is many futurists currently seek to conquer boring activities in hopes to make our daily lives easier. It’s this sobering thought many in healthcare industry should square against the hype and promise that’s sweeping the industry over artificial intelligence and machine learning.

There is potential to make workflows more efficient with machine learning and automation.

Though artificial intelligence hasn’t become deeply seeded in the healthcare industry (it is just still recovering from adopting EHRs on the whole), there is potential to make workflows more efficient with machine learning and automation.

As hospitals and health systems are largely fixed costs businesses, administrators are no doubt interested in tech that prove ROI. Some wonder or worry if these new tools will lead to unintended consequences such as the loss of jobs.

Many experts dismiss this concern, believing new technology will — interestingly — alleviate burden and allow clinicians to return to their patients, rather than planting their faces in screens.

Providers are still exploring the space (many are looking into readmission use cases) but considerations over liability still need to be firmed up as the industry enters this brave new world…